House subcommittee passes NHTSA recall enhancement bill

WASHINGTON (Sept. 27)—By a unanimous 23-0 vote, the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection has passed a bill enhancing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration´s powers to gather information on auto and tire defects. As passed, the measure requires auto, tire and parts manufacturers to report foreign recalls or safety campaigns within five days; directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate rulemaking to establish early warning reporting requirements on possible safety defects; requires manufacturers to send NHTSA its warranty and claims data; and establishes criminal penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for deliberately misleading NHTSA about defects which lead to death or injury. The bill now goes to the full House Commerce Committee for a vote.